If you walk into an auto parts store, you’ll find an entire shelf filled with nothing but engine oil. Shopping for engine oil can be an intimidating experience if you’ve never done it before, but choosing the right oil is actually surprisingly simple. Here’s everything you need to know about picking the right grade of … Read more
Many vehicles using timing belts to keep the valves and crankshaft aligned. This alignment allows the engine to make the most of each combustion event. If you have experience wrenching in the garage, a timing belt replacement can be a great next step to advance your home mechanic skills. If you are new to engine … Read more
Combustion engines generate power through many small, controlled explosions. The combustion process generates an immense amount of heat, requiring a carefully engineered cooling system to keep the engine running properly. Without the cooling system, the engine would quickly overheat, causing permanent damage. In extreme cases, overheating can cause total engine failure. An engine failure could cost close … Read more
PCV valves are inexpensive and often overlooked parts of your engine. When neglected, a faulty PCV valve can cause many issues that result in much more expensive repairs. What is a PCV Valve? “PCV” stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. As your engine runs, some of the combustion gases get pushed past the piston rings and … Read more
The engine oil section of an auto parts store is quite overwhelming. Not only do you have to decide between different oil weights, you also have to consider the difference between conventional, full synthetic, and synthetic blend oils. How Important Is My Engine Oil? Engine oil is one of the most important fluids in your … Read more
Radiators are critical for maintaining cool, efficient engines. If you have a bad or clogged radiator, your vehicle is very likely to overheat. An overheating vehicle usually won’t make it very far down the road before it quits working completely. This turns a fairly cheap repair into a very expensive one. What Does a Car … Read more
A collapsed radiator hose is a hose in the cooling system that appears to be pinched or squeezed in the middle. While the hose may still hold coolant, a pinched hose is put under stresses it was not designed for. It’s important to figure out why a hose is being pinched so that hose does … Read more
Timing is the process of synchronizing the camshafts with the crankshaft. This allows the air to enter and exit the engine at a precise time. This also tells the ECU when it should fire each spark plug for optimal combustion. Modern vehicles use timing chains instead of timing belts. While timing belts need to be … Read more
Exhaust systems are like musical instruments that can be tuned to give your vehicle the perfect sound. Their shape and size can even affect how your vehicle drives. Since combustion engines are big air pumps, a freer flowing exhaust will usually give you more horsepower. This is because performance exhausts are less restrictive and allow … Read more
Nothing ruins a routine oil change quite like finding metal flakes in the drain pan. Metal shavings can often be quite subtle, appearing more like glitter than the large pieces of shrapnel some people may immediately think of. Is It Normal to Have Metal Shavings in Oil? Some new engines will show a bit of … Read more